Evaluation of Road Traffic Congestion by Shock Wave Theory and Reduction Strategies

Abstract

Road traffic congestion continues to remain a major problem in most cities around the world, especially in developing countries resulting in extensive delays, improved fuel wastage and financial losses. Urban traffic congestion has been a difficult problem in the growth of modern cities in India. The factors that reason the traffic congestion are complex and they mutually restrict. Transportation researchers have long struggled to find adequate ways of describing and analysing traffic congestion, as marked from the large number of often challenging approaches and models that have been developed. In this study, we explain traffic flow model with shockwave theory and operational strategies to manage traffic congestion in developing countries like India. Monitoring traffic density and speed helps to better manage traffic flow and plan transport infrastructure and policy. In this study, we present techniques to measure traffic density and speed in unplanned traffic, common in developing countries, and apply those techniques to better understand traffic patterns.